Communications

The Communications Division is the nerve center or hub of the Fire District operations and is usually the first point of contact for the public. It is where calls for service are received; information is obtained and transmitted to the appropriate units and where pre-arrival instructions are given through the Emergency Medical Dispatching (EMD) process.

Responsibilities

Additionally, the Communications Division must monitor incidents in progress, identify the severity of the incident, estimate the time the units will be committed, fill voids in the Fire/EMS defense system, record information on incidents, and serve as the primary location for the management of routine emergencies, including processing calls for additional resources.

Improved Hardware & Software

Over the past few years the Communications Division has worked with
improved hardware and software to assist in their mission. This
includes Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) software designed for fire
and EMS. It also includes a Mobile Data Communications System with
Automatic Vehicle Location (AVL) units. The AVL units help track all
the units from the Communications Center.

Resources Allocation

The Communications Division must manage and allocate the Fire and
EMS resources of the District in a way which ensures that the
proper resources are dispatched in a quick, efficient and
professional manner.